didn’t believe you were a wolf in any shape or form. I’m still not sure I trust you.”
“Because I’m a wolf?”
“No, because I’m still worried you might be a serial killer.”
He grunted and rolled his eyes.
“I fear humans more than I fear wolves,” I said. “Where I’m from it’s rare for wolves to attack people. Humans, on the other hand, don’t always need provocation to hurt someone. Frankly I think humans are crazier.”
His jovial grin returned. “No wonder you’re my mate.”
I put a hand over my eyes. “I am not your mate.”
“What if I make a pledge?”
“A pledge?”
“A pledge to help you. I’m tired of seeking the girl for her.” I wondered who he was talking about. “I just want to be free. I just want to be near my mate.”
I sighed in exasperation. “I am not your—”
“Please,” he said, and his serious expression stopped me. “I know you may not believe me but…I would be very grateful if you gave me a chance. No one ever gives me a chance.” He touched my arm and my heart did that weird flip-flop thing again.
I finally relented. “All right. But that’s quite a sudden turnaround, babe. How do I know you won’t do the same to me when the time comes?”
“As the moon is my master, I promise to be by your side no matter what. I will do everything you ask. And a wolf who promises on the moon does not go back on his vow.”
“What about the girl?”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I won’t even go near her without your leave.”
I supposed it would have to do. We fell silent, watching the stars come out while the rest of the world went from blue to black. The moon hung low in the sky, a little over half of it showing. I caught Wolf staring at it intently.
“You’re not gonna howl at that, are you?”
“I might.”
“Wolves don’t howl at the moon where I’m from. That’s an old wives’ tale. They howl to reinforce pack bonds and to let other wolves know where their boundaries are.”
“We do that too, but the moon is our master, especially for us half-wolves because we have no pack and no one to howl to. The pull is stronger when the moon is full.”
I inched away from him. “You’re not a werewolf, are you?”
He sat up in disgust. “No. Of course not. Werewolves are disgusting, vicious creatures. Wolves in human skins that have indulged in their darker sides and killed too many people. They revel in their bloodlust. All the werewolves of this country were banished a long time ago.” Then he settled down again. “Werewolf,” he scoffed.
“But…you could be. As a half-wolf, right?”
He growled. “I’d eat poisoned meat before becoming a werewolf.”
Good to know. I shifted my spot in the leaves, closing my eyes.
“You’re going to help me find Marianne tomorrow, right?” I asked.
“Yes. A wolf never goes back on his word, half or whole.”
“Good.”
I woke up in the middle of the night, a little chilled, and stiff from lying on the hard ground. My head didn’t hurt at all. I shifted again, turned on my side with my head on my arm. I opened my eyes a crack and thought I saw Wolf, standing about twenty feet away amidst the trees. A pack of wolves, full ones on all four paws, surrounded him. He gestured with his hands from time to time. He paused for a moment and shook his foot, something gold jangling around his ankle. A weird tingle pulled at me. He went back to gesturing as though talking. Then several of the wolves turned to look at me, the fire making their eyes glow in the dark. Wolf did the same, and his eyes glimmered in the exact same way.
Chapter 4
I woke with a start. Panic wrenched in my chest from my strange surroundings, and for a moment I was six again, lost in the woods. Then the previous day’s events came rushing back. I relaxed slightly. Old memories lingered in my mind. I pushed them away. My watch read six o’clock, though I didn’t know how accurate that was for this place. The sun’s rays shone through the trees and early morning mist. My body was stiff but thankfully not too cold even though the fire must have died sometime during the night. Wolf laid a few feet away, half curled up and whimpering softly in his sleep. I was surprised I was awake before him. Probably due